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Become a Poll Challenger

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What is a Poll Challenger?

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  • A Challenger is a person who is appointed by a candidate, political party chair (Democrat or Republican), or proponent or opponent of a public referendum. A candidate in the election may also act as a challenger on behalf of him or herself. A challenger is permitted by law to observe the voting process in a polling place or at the location where mail-in ballots are counted (the board of election office) and can challenge a voter’s right to vote or the validity of a mail-in ballot. N.J.S.A. 19:7-1, et seq.; N.J.S.A. 19:7-2; N.J.S.A. 19:7-3; N.J.S.A. 19:7-5.​

Poll Challengers Can 

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  • ​Listen to the names of the voters who present themselves to the District Board Workers to vote

  • If a challenger knows, suspects or reasonably believes that a voter is not qualified to vote, the challenger can challenge the voter’s right to vote

  • The challenger must assert the challenge before the voter votes. The district board must ask the challenger why he or she is challenging the voter (for example, a challenger may claim that the voter moved out of State before election day) and require the challenger to sign a challenger affidavit.

  • The voter must also sign an affidavit and may have to show the district board an identifying document. The board must then vote on the challenge. A tie vote works in favor of the voter. N.J.S.A. 19:15-18.2 and N.J.S.A. 19:15-24.

Poll Challengers Cannot 

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  • Challenge any voter on the basis of race, ethnicity, expected manner of voting, or the location of the voter’s actual residence in a housing complex, ward or other part of town or county (N.J.S.A. 19:15-18);

  • Sit with the district board workers;

  • Stand over the district board workers;

  • Touch any election materials;

  • Go to the voting machine during the voting hours;
    challenge the voter directly;

  • Participate in the signature comparison process, which is the exclusive responsibility of the board worker;
    harass or intimidate voters or cause any disturbance in the polling place. N.J.S.A. 19:34-29;

  • Wear any campaign insignia whatsoever. This includes buttons or any clothing with indicia relating to any candidate, a political party or referendum. N.J.S.A. 19:34-15;

  • Decline, refuse or neglect to wear the challenger badge or fail to present the challenger credentials to the district board upon arrival at the polling place. N.J.S.A. 19:7-6.

*IMPORTANT NOTE*

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